Vikings send three to visit Favre

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Brett Favre's official website just sent this e-mail alert to those who follow him:

"Stay tuned for breaking news from the Minnesota Vikings today on Brett Favre's possible return. Visit the Vikings.com and Officialbrettfavre.com for more information."

ORIGINAL BLOG POST IS BELOW

The Vikings appear to be pulling out all the stops in their quest to convince Brett Favre to play a 20th NFL season.

That much became clear as the Vikings began the morning practice on Tuesday at Winter Park without defensive end Jared Allen, offensive guard Steve Hutchinson or kicker Ryan Longwell on the field. All three were at practice Monday and haven’t dealt with injuries of late.

It's believed the trio was sent to Hattiesburg, Miss., to try to convince Favre to return. Sources confirmed the three were not at meetings earlier this morning either.

Favre has wavered on his decision on seemingly a daily basis and even told the Vikings he was going to stay retired on Aug. 2 because his left ankle hadn’t responded the way he had hoped to offseason surgery. However, the team convinced him to take more time to make up his mind.

Coach Brad Childress said Monday there had been no recent contact with Favre.

Favre decided to end his second shot at retirement and play for the Vikings almost exactly a year ago to the day, signing a two-year, $25 million deal last Aug. 18.

The former Green Bay Packers star proceeded to have one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for 4,202 yards with 33 touchdowns, a career-low seven interceptions and a career-best 107.2 passer rating.

The Vikings finished 12-4, won their second consecutive NFC North title and advanced to the NFC title game, where they lost to the New Orleans Saints in overtime.

Favre, who will turn 41 in October, took a beating in that game and came away with an injured left ankle. He had arthroscopic surgery for the third time in his career on the ankle in late May as Dr. James Andrews removed scar tissue and bone spurs.

“It went fine,” Andrews said in June. "He's rehabbing and trying to decide what he's going to do.” Favre, though, wasn’t happy with how the ankle responded. He visited Andrews last week in Gulf Breeze, Fla., to have the ankle examined.